Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings, January 17-23

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky.

Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where.

With the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) having gone into effect on July 1, the TDN will also post a roundup of the relevant HISA-related rulings from the same week.

New York

Track: Aqueduct
Date: 01/18/2023
Licensee: Manuel Franco
Penalty: Three-day suspension
Violation: Mid-race interference
Explainer: For having waived his right to an appeal Jockey Mr. Manuel Franco is hereby suspended for 3 NYRA racing days January 20th 2023, January 21st 2023, January 22nd 2023 inclusive. This for interference during the running of the seventh race at Aqueduct Racetrack on January 12th 2023 causing his horse ” Spiked” to be disqualified from first and placed third.

Track: Aqueduct
Date: 01/19/2023
Licensee: Michelle Giangiulio, trainer
Penalty: Ten-day suspension, $1,000 fine
Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: Having received a report from the NYS Gaming Commission Drug Testing Laboratory of the finding of Phenylbutazone in the post-race sample taken from horse ” Eight and Sand ” (#10) which raced at Aqueduct racetrack in the 9th race and finished 1st on December 11th 2022. Trainer of record Ms. Michelle Giangiulio having been notified of the post-race findings and having waived her right to an appeal, is hereby fined the sum of one thousand ($1,000) dollars and suspended 10 Calendar days effective January 20th 2023, through January 29th 2023, inclusive. Furthermore, the Stewards order horse “Eight and Sand” disqualified from any part of the purse and the purse redistributed as follows:

1. (#12) Itsalittlebitfunny
2. (#3) Reunion Tour
3. (#6) Our Son Jake
4. (#7) Tiza Brown
5. (#11) Escape Mission
6. (#9) Patrick the Great
7. (#4) Dancing with Rico
8. (#1) Uncle Bruce
9. (#2) Hereby
10.(#8) Red Jet
11.(#5) Chief Engineer

Ordered that during your period of suspension, you shall not directly or indirectly participate in New York State Pari-mutuel horse racing. You are denied the privileges and use of the grounds of all racetracks, you are forbidden to participate in any share of purses or other payment. Every horse is denied the privileges of the grounds and shall not participate in pari-mutuel racing in New York State, that (a) is owned or trained by you, or by individuals who serves as your agent or employee during your suspension: or (b) for which you during your suspension are directly or indirectly with training, including any arrangements to care for, train, enter, race, invoice, collect fees or other payments, manage funds, employ or insure workers, provide advice or other information or otherwise assist with any aspect of the training of such horses.

NEW HISA STEWARDS RULINGS

The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal, except for the voided claim rulings which were sent to the TDN directly. Some of these rulings are from prior weeks as they were not reported contemporaneously.

One important note: HISA's whip use limit is restricted to six strikes during a race.

Violations of Crop Rule

Aqueduct

Gherson (Jason) Huayas – violation date January 14; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 8 strikes

Abner Perez Adorno – violation date January 20; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Golden Gate Fields

Silvio Amador – violation date January 16; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Julien H Couton – violation date January 21; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Gulfstream Park

Jorge Espitia – violation date January 14; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Santa Anita

Frankie Dettori – violation date January 15; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Victor Espinoza – violation date January 15; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 8 strikes